Sale 108: The Westpex Sale

Lot 1627    

Camp Floyd, U.T., Oct 6, bold cds canceling on 1853, 3¢ Nesbitt entire to Bloomington, Ind.; light toning, missing backflap and small tear at top, F.-V.F.
Scott Nos. U9    Estimate $100 - 150.

Realized: $160

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Lot 1628    

"Choctaw Agency, Ark, June 18 1854", manuscript postmark of 3¢ Nesbitt entire to Wheeling, Va., some minor wear, F.-V.F. a scarce Indian Territory postmark.
Scott Nos. U10    Estimate $200 - 300.

Realized: $240

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Lot 1629    

Doniphan, K.T., Sep 24, bold balloon cds on 1853, 3¢ Nesbitt entire to Garnavillo, Iowa, with fancy flower handstamp canceling, 1860 docketing at left, Very Fine and choice.
Scott Nos. U10    Estimate $150 - 200.

Realized: $260

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Lot 1630    

Fort Buchanan, N.M., May 5, complete circa 1860 cds on 3¢ red (U10) buff Nesbitt entire addressed in the hand of Captain Richard S. Ewell (commander 1st Dragoons, U.S. Army, later a general in C.S.A. Army), to his niece Elizabeth in Williamsburg, Virginia, endorsed "Via Washington D.C.", carried by Military Express to Tubac, then by Lathrop's Buckboard Mail to Tucson, and from Tucson to St. Louis by Butterfield Overland Mail, docketing note on back "Relating to child captured from Indians", Very Fine and choice, ex-Birkinbine.
Estimate    $2,000 - 3,000.

A CLEAR STRIKE OF THE RARE FORT BUCHANAN, NEW MEXICO CDS ON A COVER FROM CAPTAIN RICHARD "OLD BALDY" EWELL - LATER A CONFEDERATE GENERAL.

According to the Siegel Auctions catalogue of the Birkinbine Collection, "The sender of this cover, Captain Richard S. Ewell, arrived in the area of southern Arizona in November 1856 with Major Enoch Steen and the 1st Dragoons. They established Camp Moore in mid-November 1856, which was relocated and renamed Fort Buchanan in mid-1857. This May 1860 cover from Capt. Ewell was carried by military express from Fort Buchanan to the post office at Tubac. It was carried from Tubac to Tucson by S. H. Lathrop, who was under contract to transport mail once a week between the two towns. At Tucson the cover was put on the eastbound Butterfield Overland Mail stage to St. Louis via Fort Smith.

In early 1860 Captain Ewell successfully negotiated the release of eleven-year old Mercedes Sias Quiroz, one of two young women abducted by Pinal Apaches (the other was seriously injured and returned to camp after Mercedes's release). In recognition of his efforts, one of four Arizona territorial counties was named Ewell. In May 1860, around the time this cover was postmarked, he inspected the site where Fort Breckinridge was eventually established to prevent Apache attacks. Before construction of the new fort was completed, Ewell returned east in January 1861 due to recurring malaria infections. The note on back indicates that Ewell's letter contained a report of the recovery of the young hostage.

S. H. Lathrop's Buckboard Contract Mail -- The Overland Mail route passed through Tucson, but not Tubac, which lies approximately 45 miles south on the Camino Real. The Tubac postmaster, D. F. Hulseman, contracted with S. H. Lathrop, treasurer of the Sonora Exploration and Mining Co., to carry mail on weekly buckboard trips between the two towns." .

Realized: $1,500

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Lot 1631    

Fort Gibson, Ark., Jan 12 (Cherokee Nation), cds canceling on 1853, 3¢ Nesbitt entire to Tahlequah, C.N.; tone spot at bottom, otherwise Very Fine.
Scott Nos. U10    Estimate $200 - 300.

Realized: $130

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Lot 1632    

Mountain City K.T., Sept 29, manuscript postmark on 1853. 3¢ Nesbitt entire to Emporia, K.T., canceled by grid handstamp; entire reduced at left, Very Fine, a rare Kansas Territory use.
Scott Nos. U10    Estimate $750 - 1,000.

Mountain City in Gilpin County was one of the richest mining discoveries on the site known as "Gregory Diggings". The Post Office opened on January 17, 1860 while in the Kansas Territory. The office handled thousands of letters, and in October 1869 name changed to Central City.

Realized: $800

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Lot 1633    

Olympia, Ogn. (Washington Territory), undated balloon cds on 1853, 3¢ Nesbitt entire with handstamped "Paid" and manuscript "7" additional rate marking, to Massachusetts, late use of "Ogn." postmark after Washington Territory was created, slightly reduced at left, an attractive "Paid 7" cover from the 1855-63 rate period when prepayment was made compulsory but there were no 7¢ stamps to combine with 3¢ stamps to make up the transcontinental rate., Very Fine.
Scott Nos. U10    Estimate $200 - 300.

Realized: $230

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Lot 1634    

Salt Lake City, Utah T., Sep 1, bold sharp cds on 1853, 3¢ Nesbitt entire to Georgetown, S.C., manuscript canceled with "Due 5 cts" alongside, 1857 pencil docketing; sealed opening tears at top, F.-V.F.
Scott Nos. U2    Estimate $150 - 200.

Realized: $180

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Lot 1635    

Tahlequah, Ark, Oct 17 (Cherokee Nation), bold cds with manuscript date, canceling on 1853, 3¢ Nesbitt entire address to Creek Nation, Very Fine, a rare usage from the capitol of Cherokee Nation.
Scott Nos. U9    Estimate $300 - 400.

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